Happy new year

Havent been updating for quite a while. Reasons varying from no gusto to update, to busy and more cheap excuses :).

However, I decided to give it another go. Lets recap the last few months. It wasnt that pretty. I have been playing on vairous sites with various success. I played some on the iPoker network (celeb poker and winner poker). Games there are full of regulars. The software isnt that good as well. However, most regs are pretty bad. But no really easy money. Moreover, rakeback and bonusses arent that good as well.

I also played some time on Doyles Room. This skin is part of cake network, where no HUD is allowed. Players can change their screen name every week or so. The software is quite fast, but crashes regularly. Note taking there is horrendous. Rakeback and bonusses are ok though. Dont know, but I just didnt like playing there very much.

So back to PokerStars. Especially since they upgraded their rewards program, its better to play there. In December I didnt play a lot, since I wanted to have a good start in January. Lady variance kicked me hard though, while playing 16+ tables.

So I decided to cut down on the number of tables. Keeping six as a maximum and really focussing on my game. Playing a lot of tables inevitably results in missing spots and playing tighter. And that's what im working on. Somebody offered to coach me, while making video's of it for Nederpoker. And Im already seeing some results. It certainly is promissing.

Still some days you wish you never started playing poker, but usually I still like it a lot. Im still involved with Pokernews (moderating and writing articles) and Nederpoker (weekly video). That is something I enjoy a lot. A famous saying is...those who cant play, they teach :). Lol.

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.

Registration code: 854909

Right2Bet

Back from holiday

Back from Tenerife and La Palma. Was very nice, good hotels, beautifull islands and impressive nature. Two weeks no poker was good as well.

First video at Nederpoker was received pretty well. Was satisfied about the content. Today the 2nd video was released.

Since returning, 3 days ago, I find poker some more fun. Running well also helped. Up 11buyins or something. Nice...

Also listen to the Pokernews radio show every Sunday evening. Very entertaining and worth listening to, even if you cant make it live. Its downloadable from the Pokernews main page. Interesting content with RaSZi, Noah Boeken, Jordy Veenboer and others...

Challenging

My desktop is back. Thank god in one piece. Just cost me about 30 euro's. Memonry was fried.

The challenge is still challenging. I didnt play too much, but got up to about $700. Find playing 9 tables quite relaxing. I can get away with agro play, instead of the much advised tag and wait-for-good-hands play at these limits.

Will be playing this Sunday's wcoop (#26). got staked by the PokerNews community. Lets hope for a big score.

Will be making some video's for Dutch site Nederpoker.nl. It will be mainly low-limit cash game video's. Much looking forward to that.

Still there is not even a response from the Eurolinx people. More and more getting the feeling we got scammed. MicroGaming is not responding either. Its doing a good job of keeping the players in the dark. Once again: stay away from that network. Your money is not safe!

Challenge update

My desktop computer (yes, the one with a zillion hands in the database) crashed on Saturday. By express service to the computer guy to fix it and picked up a laptop on the return trip. Pretty happy with the HP HDX Premium.

For the challenge, I was up to about $650 and then down to about $300. Now I am at $410. Not doing too well. But then again, not putting too many hours into it. It will be hard to accomplish my goal. But we will see...

Day 2

Up to $573 on Stars. Haven't played on FT. Played for about 2 hours today. Busy writing an article for Pokernews. Hope to put in more hours next week.

Standings

Just played an hour or so on Day 1 of the challenge. Was quite busy today so not to much time.

Im up on Stars and down on FT

FT: $10.64 (-$2.36)
Stars: $536.75

I played some 0.01/0.02 on FT and some sit and go's, but managed to bubble 3 sngs...

On Stars I played 9 tables 25nl. Some players play pretty well I have to say. Most have really basic leaks though. Calling is a hobby there.

749 hands...27/24

Main hands:

***** Hand History for Game 32124978453 ***** (Poker Stars)
$25.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, August 27, 09:39:30 ET 2009
Table Mnesthus II (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Seat 1: slash1414 ( $24.20 USD )
Seat 2: Edme79 ( $35.30 USD )
Seat 3: HUTSLARI ( $51.10 USD )
Seat 4: silviusan777 ( $22.35 USD )
Seat 5: million$tedz ( $44.00 USD )
Seat 6: Balvenie84 ( $45.60 USD )
silviusan777 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
million$tedz posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Edme79 [ As Ks ]
Balvenie84 folds
slash1414 folds
Edme79 raises [$1.00 USD]
HUTSLARI calls [$1.00 USD]
silviusan777 folds
million$tedz folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8s, 2d, 5s ]
Edme79 bets [$1.75 USD]
HUTSLARI raises [$4.50 USD]
Edme79 raises [$13.25 USD]
HUTSLARI calls [$10.50 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 4s ]
Edme79 checks
HUTSLARI bets [$7.00 USD]
Edme79 raises [$19.30 USD]
HUTSLARI folds
Edme79 wins $12.30 USD
Edme79 wins $44.15 USD from main pot

***** Hand History for Game 32124976138 ***** (Poker Stars)
$25.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, August 27, 09:39:26 ET 2009
Table Kalyke X (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Seat 1: Edme79 ( $26.80 USD )
Seat 2: Grabbe7 ( $18.95 USD )
Seat 3: BUHUE ( $26.35 USD )
Seat 4: GEBELSwow ( $26.80 USD )
Seat 5: MPAKAPM ( $33.35 USD )
Seat 6: Venrae ( $50.65 USD )
MPAKAPM posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Venrae posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Edme79 [ Td Jd ]
Edme79 raises [$1.00 USD]
Grabbe7 folds
BUHUE folds
GEBELSwow calls [$1.00 USD]
MPAKAPM folds
Venrae folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ Js, 4c, Tc ]
Edme79 bets [$2.00 USD]
GEBELSwow calls [$2.00 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3c ]
Edme79 bets [$5.00 USD]
GEBELSwow calls [$5.00 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ Jh ]
Edme79 bets [$18.80 USD]
GEBELSwow calls [$18.80 USD]
Edme79 shows [Td, Jd ]
GEBELSwow shows [Jc, Kc ]
Edme79 wins $51.30 USD from main pot


***** Hand History for Game 32124978872 ***** (Poker Stars)
$25.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, August 27, 09:39:30 ET 2009
Table Ekard IV (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Seat 1: Newborn 916 ( $48.15 USD )
Seat 4: Edme79 ( $27.55 USD )
Seat 5: chaotsu7 ( $27.05 USD )
Seat 6: Balvenie84 ( $36.45 USD )
Newborn 916 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Edme79 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Edme79 [ Kh Kd ]
chaotsu7 folds
Balvenie84 raises [$1.00 USD]
Newborn 916 folds
Edme79 raises [$2.75 USD]
Balvenie84 raises [$8.00 USD]
Edme79 raises [$24.55 USD]
Balvenie84 calls [$18.55 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 6h, 6d, 9c ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ As ]
** Dealing River ** [ 3h ]
Edme79 shows [Kh, Kd ]
Balvenie84 shows [Kc, Ac ]
Balvenie84 wins $53.20 USD from main pot

***** Hand History for Game 32124401954 ***** (Poker Stars)
$25.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, August 27, 09:25:16 ET 2009
Table Ekard IV (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Seat 1: Newborn 916 ( $50.45 USD )
Seat 2: Koukalka1989 ( $18.00 USD )
Seat 3: Solsek ( $25.60 USD )
Seat 4: Edme79 ( $25.80 USD )
Seat 5: Boston pkt 8 ( $36.00 USD )
Seat 6: Balvenie84 ( $37.05 USD )
Balvenie84 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Newborn 916 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Edme79 [ Ac 6c ]
Koukalka1989 folds
Solsek folds
Edme79 raises [$0.75 USD]
Boston pkt 8 calls [$0.75 USD]
Balvenie84 folds
Newborn 916 folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9h, 6d, Ad ]
Edme79 checks
Boston pkt 8 bets [$1.00 USD]
Edme79 raises [$4.50 USD]
Boston pkt 8 calls [$3.50 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7d ]
Edme79 checks
Boston pkt 8 bets [$7.00 USD]
Edme79 calls [$7.00 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 9s ]
Edme79 checks
Boston pkt 8 checks
Edme79 shows [Ac, 6c ]
Boston pkt 8 shows [9d, 8d ]
Boston pkt 8 wins $23.65 USD from main pot

Challenge(s)

So on to the challenge. I have cashed out most of my bankroll and left a small amount on two sites. On PokerStars I left $500. Plan is to grind it up, though proper bankroll management to $5k before my holiday break on 18 september.

This means I can play $3 sit and go's, $5 tounaments and 25nl with a $500 bankroll and have to go to $1000 to move up to $6.50 SNG, $11 tournaments and 50nl. Stop loss is at 80% of the limits. So at $400 move down to 10nl. At $800 move back down to 25nl.

A different challenge and more of coincidence, because I just found out, is that somebody transferred $13 to my Full tilt account. Just for fun i want to see how far it goes. I will not be to upset when I go busto there.

Starting today:

Full tilt: $13
PokerStars: $500

I will post regular updates here. Regular means a few times a week :)

Eurolinx liquidation

Long time no update, but its rough for some pokerplayers. Especially those playing on betonbet or Eurolinx, like me. Last week Eurolinx suddenly announced it was being liquidated. There had been some problems with withdrawing funds. Very slow withdrawals and usually no possiblity to withdraw. It seems like I lost about a decent amount there. That hurts bad. In total it is estimated that players on Eurolinx lost about 3-4 million. Well, not lost. but there is little hope the money will be recovered by liquidators.

Besides that it seems some fraudulent activity has been going on. Jo Remme is the boss of Linx Media Group and has been involved in pyramid schemes before. Sick life. This is the second scandal hitting MicroGaming, after the Tusk liquidation 1,5 years ago. People who were involved still have not seen any money. MicroGaming itself does not seem to be bothered and gives no response. I would recommend never ever to play on that network again.

The thread on 2+2 is quite extensive and provides some good info if you are interested).

Besides the blow I had/have a nice little 35 buyin downswing. The combination of the two really makes me dislike playing a lot. However, there is going to be a challenge...

Is it...time for an update

Summer is always good for sports and poker. Tour de France is pedalling along with Contador in first spot and Kenny van Hummel in last. Enjoy watching that a lot. Pokerwise it has been pretty decent. At the start of the month I finished 3rd in a 5.5 rebuy at Pokerstars. That was a nice price.

I am experimenting with Sit and Go's. Not sure if I will stick to them or switch back to cash or perhaps both, what is the case now. However, I play the 18 man turbo's on Pokerstars with limits ranging from $6.50 to $38. My ROI is pretty nice and I find them low risk and easy money so far.

I still play cash as well. But the winrates are mediocre at best. I heard the same story from other 100 and 200nl regs, whose winrates are up to 3bb/100. Not sure why, but the games are definitely toughening up.

For the SNGs I have a subscription on sitandgogrinders.com and deucescracked, which is probably the best international instructionsite out there. I have been pretty busy writing articles for Pokernews. did a few on poker mindset. I find writing these articles a good way to keep up to date with developments in the game and they force you to do some in depth analysis on topics.

As you notice. Sorry for the lack of updates, but it is as it is :)

Ow...did go to Krakow a couple of weeks ago. Can really recommend it for a weekend break. The city is really nice. Lot of bars and restaurants with good atmosphere and foor. Lot of clubs as well. It is quite cheap, compared to Dutch prices. Excursions to Aushwitz, Salt mine and Tatra mountains are interesting (auschwitz) and fun (others) as well.